Shoe donning system

ABSTRACT

A shoe comprising an outsole; an upper coupled to the outsole; a back-pull coupled to a heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole; and a zipper closure on an inside quarter of the upper. The zipper closure can extend from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter between the outsole and a collar, and toward the heel area of the shoe. The zipper closure can terminate on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper. The back-pull can be selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/715,678, filed on Aug. 7, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this description by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to shoes and, more particularly, to a shoe donning and doffing system having a back-pull coupled to a heel of the shoe between the upper and the outsole.

BACKGROUND

Ill, injured, elderly, disabled, or infirm individuals can have difficulty donning and doffing their shoes. Dressing sticks or hooks can be used with pants and other clothing, but these tools have limited utility with existing shoes.

It should be appreciated that there is a need for an improved shoe that can be easily donned and doffed by ill, injured, elderly, disabled, or infirm individuals. The present invention fulfills this need and provides further related advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is embodied in a shoe comprising an outsole; an upper coupled to the outsole; and a zipper closure on an inside quarter of the upper. In one embodiment, the shoe further comprises a back-pull coupled to the heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole. In another embodiment, the zipper closure can extend from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter between the outsole and a collar, and toward a heel area of the shoe. In a further embodiment, the zipper closure can terminate on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper. In an additional embodiment, the back-pull can be selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab.

In one embodiment, the zipper closure can extend from an upper portion of the eyestay, proximate the collar on the upper. In another embodiment, the back-pull can be located below the zipper closure. In a further embodiment, a vertical distance from the back-pull to the zipper closure can be about 1% to about 40% of a height from the back-pull to the collar.

In one embodiment, the zipper closure can further comprise a pull-tab mechanism. In another embodiment, the upper can further comprise elastic laces. In a further embodiment, the upper can further comprise a loop coupled to an outer surface of a tongue. In an additional embodiment, the back-pull can further comprise reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper. In yet another embodiment, the back-pull can be coupled to the shoe with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper.

Each feature or concept outlined above is independent, and can be combined with the other features or concepts outlined above or with any other feature or concept disclosed in this application. Other features and advantages of the invention should become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a right shoe in accordance with one embodiment, with the zipper closure shown in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1, with the zipper closure shown in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the shoe of FIG. 1, with the zipper closure shown in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shoe of FIG. 1, with the zipper closure shown in an open position.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are front perspective views of a back-pull in accordance with two embodiments.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front perspective views of a pull-tab mechanism in accordance with two embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to FIGS. 1-9B of the illustrative drawings, there is shown a shoe 100 comprising an outsole 10, an upper 20 coupled to the outsole 10, and a zipper closure 40 to allow easy access to the shoe 100. In one embodiment, the upper 20 can comprise a zipper closure 40 on an inside quarter 22 of the upper 20. The zipper closure 40 can extend from an eyestay 24 on the inside quarter 22, along the inside quarter 22 between the outsole 10 and a collar 25, and toward a heel area 21 of the shoe.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, when the zipper closure 40 is opened, an upper portion 23 of the inside quarter 22 can be pulled back toward the heel area 21 of the shoe to create an enlarged foot-insertion opening 60 or portal pathway. This enlarged foot-insertion opening 60 provides easy access to the shoe 100.

With particular reference now to FIG. 5, Applicant has found that the shoe 100 is more easily donned and doffed when the zipper closure 40 terminates on the inside quarter 22 and does not extend to or past a vertical line Lv passing through a rearmost point PR of the upper 20. This configuration maintains the integrity of the heel cup, and allows the rearmost portion of the heel area 21 to provide a counterforce against the foot as the foot is pushed down into the shoe 100. This counterforce facilitates donning the shoe 100 by pushing the foot forward into the shoe 100 as the foot is pushed down.

A longer zipper closure that extends beyond the vertical line Lv passing through the rearmost point PR of the upper 20 would vitiate the integrity of the heel cup and would not allow the shoe 100 to fixate and function as a shoe when the portal pathway 60 is in the open position. In addition, Applicant has found that longer zipper closures can be more physically challenging for users and require greater ambulation, dexterity, range of motion, strength, flexibility, dynamic sitting balance, and trunk rotation to open or close. These difficulties can be amplified in users with physical or neurological defects, as such users might not be able to easily and quickly secure or close the elongated zipper closure. In addition, a longer zipper closure can create a tripping hazard when it is in an open position because the elongated upper portion 23 might be long enough to be tripped over when the user takes a step.

In one embodiment, the zipper closure 40 can extend from an upper portion 26 of the eyestay 24, proximate the collar 25 on the upper 20. In another embodiment, the zipper closure 40 can extend in a substantially horizontal line. In a further embodiment, the zipper closure 40 can include a first segment that extends in a substantially horizontal line and a second segment that curves from the first segment to the eyestay 24 proximate the collar 25 on the upper 20. With particular reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, in another embodiment, the zipper closure 40 can further comprise a side, pull-tab mechanism 42 configured to facilitate opening and closing the zipper closure 40 with a dressing stick.

While these embodiments contemplate opening and closing the portal pathway 60 with a zipper closure 40, other embodiments omit the zipper closure 40 so that the portal opening 60 is defined by a permanent cutout or opening on the inside quarter. For example, in one embodiment, the shoe 100 can the outsole 10, the upper 20 coupled to the outsole 10; and a portal opening 60 to allow easy access to the shoe 100. In another embodiment, the portal opening 60 can be defined by a cutout on the inside quarter 22 of the upper 20. The cutout can extend from the eyestay 24 on the inside quarter 22, along the inside quarter 22, and toward the heel area 21 of the shoe. To maintain the integrity of the heel cup and allow the rearmost portion of the heel area 21 to provide a counterforce against the foot as it is pushed down into the shoe 100, the cutout terminates on the inside quarter 22 and does not extend to or past the vertical line Lv passing through a rearmost point PR of the upper 20. In a further embodiment, the cutout can extend from the upper portion 26 of the eyestay 24. In another embodiment, the cutout can extend in a substantially horizontal line. In a further embodiment, the cutout can include a first segment that extends in a substantially horizontal line and a second segment that curves from the first segment to the upper portion 26 of the eyestay 24 on the upper 20.

Whether the shoe 100 includes a zipper closure 40 or a permanent cutout, the portal pathway 60 can allow a user to don the shoe 100 with no hands, using a biomechanically efficient turn-in motion akin to a “hokey-stop.” This can reduce hip flexor requirements for donning and doffing the shoe 100.

At the same time, the shoe 100 can be fully-fitted and pre-adjusted to provide sufficient fixation to function as a shoe rather than as a slip-on. Thus, the portal pathway 60 can allow the shoe 100 to be donned and doffed with slip-on ease and comfort, while leaving sufficient structure in the shoe 100 to provide fixation for walking in supportive footwear.

The portal pathway 60 can provide additional benefits. For example, the enlarged foot-insertion opening 60 can provide relief for hot or swollen feet. In addition, positioning the enlarged foot-insertion opening 60 on the inside quarter 22 of the shoe 100 can obscure the opening 60 (or the zipper closure 40, if included) from view from the front, back, or outside quarter of the shoe. This is of particular importance to reducing the stigma associated with accommodations for impaired individuals (particularly for patients with neurological impairment, such as autism, Parkinson's, or dementia).

In some embodiments, the shoe 100 can further comprise a back-pull 30 coupled to the heel area 21 of the shoe between the upper 20 and the outsole 10. In one embodiment, the back-pull 30 can be selected from a group consisting of a ring 32 (FIG. 8B) and a tab 34 (FIG. 8A). The back-pull 30 can be used in embodiments having a foot-insertion opening 60 that is permanently open or that is closable with a zipper closure 40. In another embodiment, the back-pull 30 can be used to create opposing forces that immobilize the shoe 100 during donning as the foot enters the portal pathway 60.

The back-pull 30 can be configured to be used with a dressing stick (or even a pencil) (not shown) to assist with donning and doffing the shoe 100. In this way, the back-pull 30 can enable users to create offsetting forces to aid donning or doffing the shoe 100, without the user having to bend to reach the shoe.

In one embodiment, the back-pull 30 can be located below the zipper closure 40. In another embodiment, a vertical distance d from the zipper closure 40 to a horizontal line L_(H) passing through the back-pull 30 can be about 1% to about 40% of a height H from the back-pull 30 to the collar 25. This vertical distance d is preferably below about 40% of the height so that, when the zipper closure 40 is opened, a majority of the heel 21 can be moved out of the way, and the user can easily slip the foot into the shoe 100. In a further embodiment, the vertical distance d is about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, or about 40% of the height H. This positioning can have the additional benefit of allowing the back-pull 30 to block overhanging pants from touching the floor, which can mitigate the risk of falls and trips while letting the pants break naturally near the outsole 10 of the shoe 100.

In one embodiment, the back-pull 30 can further comprise reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole 10 and the upper 20. In another embodiment, the back-pull 30 can be coupled to the shoe 100 with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole 10 and the upper 20. In a further embodiment, the shoe 100 can be provided without a back-pull 30.

In one embodiment, the upper 20 can further comprise elastic laces. Elastic laces can be used to further facilitate easy donning and doffing of the shoe 100. In addition, elastic laces can be used to prevent accidental falls caused by loose laces, as well as to assist with edema management by providing compression on the foot for individuals with varying foot sizes.

In one embodiment, the upper 20 can further comprise a loop 27 coupled to an outer surface 28 of a tongue 29. The loop 27 can be used to facilitate lowering the shoe 100 to the floor or to adjust the orientation of the shoe 100 once the shoe 100 is on the floor.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an improved shoe donning system that allows a person to easily don and doff supportive shoes without bending. The shoes can have a high heel-collar, a closed toe, and a closed heel. As such, the donning system can be used with supportive shoes that can both support foot fixation and reduce foot friction.

Specific methods, devices, and materials are described, although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present embodiment. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment belongs.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “at least one” encompass one or more of the specified element. That is, if two of a particular element are present, one of these elements is also present and thus “an” element is present. The terms “a plurality of” and “plural” mean two or more of the specified element. The term “or” used between the last two of a list of elements means any one or more of the listed elements. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” means “A, B, and/or C,” which means “A,” “B,” “C,” “A and B,” “A and C,” “B and C,” or “A, B, and C.” The term “coupled” generally means physically coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items absent specific contrary language.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art, using the proceeding description, can make and use the present invention to the fullest extent. The invention has been described in detail with reference only to the presently preferred embodiments. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the following claims. 

1. A shoe comprising: an outsole; an upper coupled to the outsole, the upper comprising an inside quarter and a collar; and a zipper closure on the inside quarter of the upper, the zipper closure extending from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter between the outsole and the collar, and toward a heel area of the shoe; wherein the zipper closure terminates on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a back-pull coupled at the heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole, the back-pull selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab.
 3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the zipper closure extends from an upper portion of the eyestay, proximate the collar on the upper.
 4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the back-pull is below the zipper closure.
 5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein a vertical distance from the back-pull to the zipper closure is about 1% to about 40% of a height from the back-pull to the collar.
 6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the zipper closure further comprises a pull-tab mechanism.
 7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper further comprises elastic laces.
 8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper further comprises: a tongue; and a loop coupled to an outer surface of the tongue.
 9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the back-pull further comprises reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper.
 10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the back-pull is coupled to the shoe with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper.
 11. A shoe comprising: an outsole; an upper coupled to the outsole, the upper comprising an inside quarter and a collar; and an opening on the inside quarter of the upper, the opening defined by a cutout extending from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter, and toward a heel area of the shoe; wherein the cutout terminates on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper.
 12. The shoe of claim 11, further comprising a back-pull coupled at the heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole, the back-pull selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab.
 13. The shoe of claim 12, wherein the cutout extends from an upper portion of the eyestay.
 14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the back-pull is below the cutout.
 15. The shoe of claim 14, wherein a vertical distance from the back-pull to the cutout is about 1% to about 40% of a height from the back-pull to the collar.
 16. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the upper further comprises elastic laces.
 17. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the upper further comprises: a tongue; and a loop coupled to an outer surface of the tongue.
 18. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the back-pull further comprises reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper.
 19. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the back-pull is coupled to the shoe with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper. 